Datamars Laundry Chips Receive Certification for MRI Scans

Datamars has received certification for its LaundryChip family of UHF RFID magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) conditional labels. From nursery homes to nuclear power plants, UHF textile tags are being used in many applications, the company explains, which puts emphasis on tag quality and certification in order to ensure comfort and safety.

The LaundryChip 401 and 301 have previously been tested as compliant with OEKO-TEX Standard 100, indicating the absence of harmful substances at levels dangerous to the human body. The labels are MR-conditional-certified for compliance with standards for safety and compatibility within an MRI environment.

MRI systems are used in hospitals and clinics for medical diagnosis, as well as for the staging of disease and follow-up without exposing the human body to ionizing radiation. Since MRI technology relies on strong static magnetic fields, any item containing metal or conductive elements could potentially lead to unwanted effects if placed inside an MRI scan device. Such effects range from excessive heating and displacement (which could harm a patient) to image artefacts (which could compromise diagnosis). Due to their electrical nature, RFID transponders contain conductive elements and are thus in this category.

The labels are designed to guarantee their suitability for use in MRI equipment, meet clinical needs for MR safety and compatibility, and ensure patient safety and diagnosis integrity. A patient wearing a garment or a textile with an embedded 301 or 401 UHF transponder can be safely scanned via an MRI system at 1.5 or 3 Tesla, the company reports, with a minimal impact on the resultant MR images.

Datamars' research-and-development team conducted an in-depth analysis of each component used in the transponders, according to the company. "We re-considered the materials used to manufacture our transponders," said Damien Pachoud, Datamars' CTO, in a prepared statement. "That was the only way to make the transponders almost invisible on MR images. This was managed very efficiently thanks to Datamars' vertical integration, which gives us full control of our production".

To demonstrate the reliability and data integrity of RFID transponders under specific conditions during MRI scans, as well as the safety of patients wearing an RFID-embedded textile, intensive MR testing has been performed by an accredited ISO certified lab specializing in testing medical implants and other devices for MRI safety and compatibility, the company reports.